Cigar-branding machine.



PATENTED JAN. 30, 1906.

B. LIBERMAN.

' CIGAR BRANDING MACHINE;

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

.PATENTED JAN. 30, 1.906.

B. LIBERMAN.

CIGAR BRANDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, 1905 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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TATE P BERNARD LIBERMAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CIIGAR-BRANDENG llllACl-llNE.

Patented J an. 30, 1906.

Application filed May 5, 1905. Serial No. 259,058.

T on whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, BERNARD LIBERMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Cigar-Branding Machine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in cigar-branding machines, my object being to afford improved means for branding a plural ity of cigars at one operation and so that the brand will be applied to the cigar at the side most suitable for receiving it, as hereinafter explained.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device, partially in section. Fig. 2 is a front elevation. Fig. 3 is asection on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section on line 1 4: of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail showing means for securing the movable brandingtype. Fig. 6 is a detail in perspective of one of the channel members.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

As is well known, cigars have a right side and a Wrong side, the right side being the side from which the stem or thicker veins of the wrapper are absent and is therefore the smooth side. This is obviously the, side most suitable for receiving a brand.

My device is adapted to be used in connection with the packing-table. As the cigars are packed they are placed in a row on a suitable part of the table, with the smooth side uppermost. The number of cigars so placed is preferably about eight, because this israbout the number in a single layer of ordinary-sized cigars that a man may hold between his two open hands. These cigars are placed in a suitable part of the table and arranged so as to project or extend partly over or beyond the edge of the table or shelf upon which they rest, so that the ends may be secured between the open hands of the operator and carried to the channel members of the branding-machine and still maintain their. smooth or right sides uppermost.

I have found as a convenient form of working my said invention the mechanism illustrated in the drawings, in which- 1 is a nearly-horizontal arm rigidly secured to a portion 2 of the operators table. At the outward extension of this arm are provided two sets or rows of apertures through which extend the rods 3, said rods being adapted to have a vertical reciprocation therein. Rods 3 are secured to the channel members 4, there being eight such channel members in the specific device illustrated. Each channel member is supported by the two rods 3, passing through the apertures in said stationary arm 1. Between the channel members 4 and the member 1 are secured the compression-springs 5, surrounding said rods 3. The pins 6 on rods 3 limit the upward movement of said rods. On the upper side of member 1, about midway its extension, is provided the lug 7, to which is secured the angle-iron 8, the vertical extension of which provides a stop or guide against which the ends of the cigars may be alined. This member 8 secures a uniform brand on the cigars and is adjustable to suit the various lengths of cigars operated upon and to secure the branding at such part of the longitudinal extension as may be desired.

To the rear extension of the stationary member 1 is pivotally mounted the member 9. At the free end of the member 9 is secured the branding member 10, which comprises a burner, a hollow casting,a recess at the lower end, and means for securing in the recess movable branding type or other device. The

branding member 10 is secured to the arm or member 9 by the bolt 11 in such manner as to permit of rotative adjustment of member 10 with respect to member 9. Secured to and extending above member 9 is the handle member 12 for the manual operation of said brander.

The branding member 10 comprises a hollow casting to which is secured a series of burnernozzles 13, adapted to direct the flame toward the bottom of said casting and against the part to which the type are secured. The burnernozzles 13 project from the common pipe 14, which is rotatably mounted in a part of casting 10 and is connected in the usual way with a source of gas-suppl y. The shield 15 is adapted to confine the heat or cooperate in directing the heat downwardly toward the type and also serves as a protection to the hand of the operator. Other suitable means may be employed for heating the branding-type without departing from the scope of my invention.

The branding-type 16 or other device are inserted in slots in the lower surface of the casting 10 and are adjustably secured in position by the set-screws 17. The frame 181s secured to the rods 19, which are movable through apertures in lugs 20 of casting 10. The limit of their downward movement issecured by the lock-pins 21. The compression- IIO spring 22 is secured between members 1 and 9 by the lugs 23 and 2a, projecting from said members, respectively, and serves normally to maintain the member 9, and consequently the branding device, in the elevated position as shown in Fig. 1. The set-screw 25, which is adapted to engage with lug 26 upon the downward movement of member 9, serves as adjustable means for limiting said downward movement. The lugs 27 and 28 serve to limit the upward or backward movement of member 9 when it is desired to have access to the branding-type. The normal elevation, however, of the device when in the operative position is substantially as shown in Fig. 1.

The operation of my device is as follows: Taking, for example, the number 8 as the number convenient for operating upon at a single time, because such number may be readily moved in a single layer between the open hands of the operator, I have adapted the machine above described as suitable for branding eight cigars at a time. It will of course be understoodfhowever, that the machine is equally adaptable for branding other numbers than eight. The channeled members i are located side by side and in juxtaposition. The

I cigars are lifted in the manner described by the operator, all being kept right side up, and deposited in a single operation in the eight channeled members. They are then pushed against the guard or guide member 8, so as to be brought into perfect alinement. The several sets of branding-types are located in eight recesses in the casting 10 and arevertically over and in alinement with the respective chaneled members. hen the cigars are thus in position, the branding-type having been heated to the required temperature by the Bunsen burners 13 or by any other suitable means, the member 19 is depressed until the branding-type comes in engagement with the cigars. Each channel member being supported by two springs 5, one at each end, it is obvious that the channeled members will yield in such manner as shall be made necessary by the various unevennesses or thicknesses of the cigars, so that an even and required pressure will be secured between each set of brandingtype and the cigar. Each cigar being on an independently-movable channel member will have its own independent adjustment with respect to its branding-type, so that all the cigars will be efiiciently branded irrespective of variations in their dimensions. When this branding has been accomplished, the member 9 is permitted to rise again in response to the pressure of spring 22 to carry the brandingtype away from the cigars. It is to be noted on an inspection of Fig. 1 that the member 18 (shown in perspective in Fig. 2) lies in a plane below the lower edge of the brandingtype 16, so, that when the branding-type are brought toward the cigar the member 18 is first brought into engagement with the row of cigars and its downward movement arrested, while the type move through the opening in said member 18, this being permitted by the sliding engagement of the rods 19 through the lugs 20. It consequently follows that when the branding-type are withdrawn from the cigars the member 18 remains in engagement with the cigars until the limit of the downward movement of pins 19 through lugs 20 is reached by the engagement of thepins 21 with the tops of said lugs. This downward movement or this maintaining of the frame 18 upon the cigars until lifted by the lugs 20 is due entirely to gravity and serves to insure the separation of the cigars from the branding-type-that is, when the branding-type are elevated after the branding process the cigars are prevented from being carried upward with the type due to the sticking of the cigars therewith. The amount of pressure which may be exerted by the brandingtype upon the cigars may be regulated by the adjusting or set screw 25.

What I claim is- 1. In a cigar-branding machine, the combination of a movable branding-die and a resiliently supported vertically movable cigarholding element beneath the die for cooperating therewith.

2. In a cigar-branding machine, the combination of a movable branding-die, a verticallymovable cigar-holding element beneath the die, and resilient means for controlling the movement of said element operating to press the cigar upwardly against the die.

3. In a cigar-branding machine, the combination of movable branding-dies, a plurality of independently-movable cigar-holding elements beneath the dies, resilient means for controlling said movement operating to maintain pressure between the cigars and the dies.

4t. In a cigar-branding machine, the combination of a'movable branding element, a plurality of independently-movable cigar-holding elements beneath the branding element, and spring means for controlling said independent movement.

5. In a cigar-branding machine, the combination of a branding-die, a cigar-holding element beneath the die for cooperating therewith and a member operating intermediate the cigar-holding element and the brandingdie for disengaging the cigar from said die.

BERNARD LIBERMAN.

WVitnesses:

EUGENE ZIEGLER, MAE HOFMANN. 

